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The Meniere's and Vestibular Migraine Connection

Posted , 7 users are following.

Bertman
Bertman

Hello Group, I found this information just wanted to share. 

Meniere's and Migraine Symptoms  

Visual symptoms might include blurred vision, blind spots, seeing patterns or flashing lights. ... As well as these symptoms, the aura part of a migraine can also include similar symptoms to Ménière's disease; symptoms of dizziness or vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss. Many people who get migraines also have problems with their vision as well as dizziness or vertigo along with the headaches.Episodes of vertigo, imbalance, dizziness, and/or disequilibrium seen in vestibular migraines last from seconds to days and may or may not be temporally associated with migraine headaches, with or without aura . ... Meniere disease is characterized by vertigo associated with tinnitus, aural fullness, and/or hearing loss Vestibular migraine (VM) has only recently been recognized as a distinct disease entity. One reason is that its symptoms overlap greatly with those of other vestibular disorders, especially Meniere disease (MD). The pathophysiology of neither VM nor MD is entirely elucidated. However, there are many theories linking migraine to both disorders. We reviewed the current understanding of migraine, VM, and MD and described how VM and MD are similar or different from each other in terms of pathophysiology and presentation, including hypotheses that the two share a common etiology and/or are variants of the same disease.

One of the reasons that physicians were so reluctant to accept VM as a distinct disease entity was that it produced so many symptoms overlapping with various well-established vestibular disorders such as Meniere disease (MD), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), and neurologic conditions that can elicit dizziness such as basilar migraine In some cases, VM may be indistinguishable from MD based on history and symptoms  Furthermore, VM may be comorbid with MD, further confounding the diagnosis .

Bertman

2 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • jim79476
    jim79476 Bertman

    Posted

    Bertman, 

    Thank you for the information. With information, we can feel like we are more in control of our situation. That way when we visit our doctor, we can be armed with questions, and demand answers. We should be able to have a conversation with our doctors about Meniere’s, and not just sit passively thinking they have all the answers. Meniere’s is a syndrome because the reason behind the symptoms have not been found. This is what makes it so had to treat, and why we all need to do our homework, track our triggers, keep a daily journal, and take charge. Empowerment is based on knowledge..

    Jim

    • Bertman
      Bertman jim79476

      Posted

      Good Morning Jim, I couldn't agree with you more, the more we know, the better we can survive the realm of meniere's. Meniere's affects a lot of people, and it affects everyone differently to some degree. Most of us have many similar symptoms with such a variance it appropriate  treatments. But that puts us in an elite group, And if we share information and stick together we can learn so much about each other and this dreaded disease. I think this support group is fantastic, and as you stated in your post, it's an empowerment. We all know we can be stronger in numbers! Have a great day 

      Bertman 

  • Willow4
    Willow4 Bertman

    Posted

    Thank you Bertman 

    I seen my ENT last week and was hoping he had an answer from the Cisternogram and continue to have these headaches.  But unfortunately he told me the exam was over his realm of expertise.  I have an appointment with the Neurontologist on Tuesday and hopefully I will get answers.  My headaches have improved some since starting Cymbalta.  So this will be helpful.  

    Have a great day!

    Willow4

    • Bertman
      Bertman Willow4

      Posted

      Hello Willow, I hope your appointment tuesday will shed some light on your headaches. 

      Have a great day! Bertman 

  • mary16977
    mary16977 Bertman

    Posted

    Thank you for the info!! I do not have migraines or even bad headaches...but I do have some vision changes, some of which are in your post. Going to the ophthalmologist on March 19, so we'll see. smile All very interesting stuff. It seems like the more we know, the more we don't know.

    Everyone take good care today

    ~Mary

    • Bertman
      Bertman mary16977

      Posted

      Hello Mary, Thank you for your response, I agree with you, the more we know the more we don't know, However when we ask questions of our physicians, we kinda make them accountable. 

      Best Wishes, Bertman 

  • yolanda29073
    yolanda29073 Bertman

    Posted

    Hi Bertman

    thanks for this information, I was diagnosed last year with VM, and until I was diagnosed I had never heard of VM as all my research pointed to MD. The differences my ENT pointed out is that am not loosing my hearing, and that is one of the symptoms of MD (that after every episode your hearing deteriorates). But he did mention that VM can eventually turn into MD. I do advise everyone to keep on doing your own research specially when you are meeting a GP (General Practitioner) that is not familiar with vestibular disorders (as mine wasn’t). My persistence and research  is what got me a diagnosis in the end, because I knew something wasn’t right and I needed answers, so I wasn’t just gonna let it go.

     

    • Bertman
      Bertman yolanda29073

      Posted

      Hello Yolanda, Thanks for your response, Good for you! Not letting go, We do have to do our part, sometimes we have to do our job and theirs. Best wishes, Bertman 
  • JMJ
    JMJ Bertman

    Posted

    Hi Bertman,

    After my last episode of MD a few months ago, it seemed that "the MD hangover" just wouldn't end.  Eventually I realized it wasn't an MD hangover at all, but rather ongoing low level dizziness and lightheadedness (and "that floaty feeling"wink, along with severe fatigue,  24/7.  I consulted with my Otolaryngologist and he felt strongly that in addition to MD, I now have Vestibular Migraines.  He gave me a Migraine Elimination diet, and it took quite a few weeks, but it helped.  I can't say that it's gone...I still have dizzy days that come and go, and I've been left with fatigue that just won't let up.  I have no idea if the fatigue  tied in with the rest of the vestibular stuff.  I wonder how many here who also suffer from MD and/or VM, have killing fatigue.

     Most recently, I noticed a jagged, bright lightening bolt in my lower right visual field.  That morphed into a bright, shimmering, jagged (saw tooth) circle around my eye....still bright and clearly defined with my eyes closed.  That lasted about an hour followed by a real pounder of a headache.  Back to my Otolaryngologist:  He said that was a classic aura of Migraine.  Sigh.  Apparently with MD are frequently on the Migraine spectrum. Nothing to do about the auras, he said, except to pop a few Advil.    

    It's so depressing....All this stuff comes out of nowhere!  What is it about our vestibular systems...our brains...that make us so vulnerable to these disorders?  It's crazy.   Thankfully it's not life-threatening, but it certainly is life-dampening...in a big way!!!

    Thank you for your informative post!  I hope you're well.

    Sincerely,

    J- 

     

    • Bertman
      Bertman JMJ

      Posted

      Hello JMJ,

      You are very welcome, I am always hoping that the group can feel better, improve their quality of life. 

      As you say, meniere's is not life threatening, but it is debilitating. If a meniere's patient should reach the point of drop attacks, loss of balance or chronic dizziness, they could then easily hurt themselves by falling. I try to maintain a good outlook and remain positive, I have to honestly admit it is hard to remain positive when you deal with multiple symptoms on a daily basis. I try to take one day at a time, enjoy as much as possible that day. Tomorrows a brand new day, no one has ever used it before, let tomorrow represent a possible new beginning. Maybe the symptoms won't be as bad tomorrow, maybe it will be an easier day. 

      maybe modern medicine will create a better treatment regimen. There is always hope as long as hope lies in the heart. Best Wishes, Bertman 

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